25) Trump is a Fake Populist (Part 1)

Reason #25 to Vote Blue on Nov 5

Here is how my dictionary defines populist: “a person, especially a politician, who strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.”

Trump does strive to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. But I contend that it is not sincere and deliberately supports policies he knows will benefit the elites and do little for the middle class.

Well, Donald Trump is always ranting about “the elites.” Who are the elites?

I have always associated that term with the very wealthy, the “1%,” and especially the approximately 400 people in the “0.1%.” The latter group of very, very wealthy have wealth that equals that of small countries. They (and much of the 1% group) have an oversized ability to influence election outcomes by giving to election PACs and to influence Supreme Court decisions by gifting Justices (like Clarence Thomas).

The very wealthy have many investments in corporate America, and often sit on the Board of Directors of more than one major US corporation. They continually add to their wealth by paying bribe-worthy salaries to corporate CEOs to ensure profits at the expense of consumers, employees, and the environment. They have returned America to something approaching the “Robber Baron Period” (roughly 1870-1900).

On the other hand, when Trump talks about “elites” he generally means those that disagree with him, wealthy people – yes- but those who take a benevolent stance, those who actually use their power primarily for the advancement of society as a whole, particularly the under-classes. because after all, he is very rich (and everything he believes in and does is about protecting and advancing his own wealth).

But like so many words, Trump has a way of redefining a word, no matter how hopelessly illogical. It sounds good. But it is all part of the way he confuses to deceive. Listen to this from Aug 4, 2018:

In 2015, Trump began his campaign for the White House saying that “The middle class in this country has been decimated.” He was right on that.

Then Trump said, “I know hedge-fund guys that are making millions of dollars a year and pay no tax.” But does he condemn this? No.

Instead Trump famously claimed that not paying taxes “makes me smart.”

With respect to “hedge-fund guys,” I guess they are OK with him since he picked J. D. Vance, a venture capitalist, as his VP choice. Immediately after that, venture capitalists and right-wing tech billionaires like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk upped their support for Trump — Musk pledging millions per month to a Trump super PAC. Why do you think?!

My next few posts will examine more details of Trump’s populist fakery.

Trump is deceiving many in the middle class who think he is on their side. He is not a populist. He does not sympathize with populists. He uses the term “elites” differently than most, to confuse his followers.